Archive

Despite cocoa prices tumbling by a third in just a year, some easter eggs have doubled in price, research by comparison website mySupermarket has shown.

The site claims that the price of Tesco’s own brand 200g Milk Chocolate Egg Hunt Bag has risen 100pc from £1 to £2; Nestle’s Retro Smarties Mug and Egg cost £4.99 two years ago at Tesco but is now £7 at the same store; and Lindt’s 500g Gold Bunny at £15 in Tesco and Asda is 50pc more expensive than two years ago.

Cash-strapped customers will be wondering why prices are rising when the cost of cocoa in top producer areas, including the Ivory Coast, continues to fall.

“There are big buying warehouses that have closed because, not only is there no cocoa, but the small amount coming in is of bad quality,” said Abel Konan, who farms near Daloa. “The buyers say our beans are very small, black and contain no chocolate.”